Arley Revisited


Maure Castle


I read some threads on this board about modifying Arley - substituting spells etc, so I thought I'd go 1 stage further and use Mike Mearls's article on the Wizards page revisiting and rebuilding the orge mage (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dd/20060721a). Using Mike's monster and some of the suggestions on this board I rebuilt Arley so he looks like this:

Arley the Weaver, Male Ogre Mage Sor10 (CR 12)
Large Giant, CN
Init +6; Senses darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision; Listen +14, Spot +14
Languages Giant, Common

AC 20, touch 11, flat-footed 19
hp 116 (6d8+24 HD + 10d4+40); fast healing 5
Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +13; Spell Resistance 19

Speed 40 ft. (8 squares), fly 40 ft. (good)
Melee greatsword +13/+8 (3d6+8/19–20); or
Melee longbow +11/+6 (2d6+4/x3)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +9; Grp +17
Atk Options sneak attack 2d6
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th):
3/day— invisibility;
1/day—lightning bolt (DC 20), gaseous form, swift invisibility (Spell Compendium page 125).

Spells (6/6+2/6+2/6+2/4+1/3+1):
5 – baleful ploymorph (DC 22)
4 – charm monster (DC 21), confusion (DC 21)
3 – dispel magic, shrink item, slow (DC 20)
2 – blur, detect thoughts, locate object, scorching ray
1 – comprehend languages, identify, magic missile, shield, unseen servant
0 – arcane mark, detect magic, ghost sound, open/close, mage hand, mending, message, read magic, resistance

Abilities Str 18, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 17, Wis 18, Cha 24
SQ deceptive veil
Feats Alertness (B), Craft Wondrous Item, Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Armour, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (craft, weaving), Skill Focus (knowledge, history)
Skills Bluff +20, Concentration +13, Craft (weaving) +22, Diplomacy +9, Disguise +10, Intimidate +9, Knowledge (arcana) +11, Knowledge (history) +10, Listen +14, Spellcraft +13, Spot +14 - +5 skill points
Possessions large +1 greatsword, large m/w composite longbow (+4 Str), 20 arrows, robe of armour +3 (functions as bracers of armour +3), cloak of resistance +2, shirt of health +2 (functions as amulet of health +2).

Deceptive Veil (Su): As per the spell disguise self, save that the ogre mage can appear to be up to one size smaller.
Flight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight as a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its normal speed and has perfect maneuverability.
Sneak Attack: As the rogue ability from the Player's Handbook.


Here’s a rough version of mine, using the revised Ogre Mage as well. I always was a bit irked by the fact that Sorcerors make relatively poor item crafters (b/c of the lack of available spells). So I went with Warlock for the Imbue Item ability. A technically illegal but nice tweak for the below would be to grab the Draconic Invocation that gives you free identify. Note that Warlock is at least arguably an associated class for Ogre Mage, which would make the CR higher.

Arley the Weaver, Male Ogre Mage Warlock 12 (CR 15)
Large Giant, CN
Init +2; Senses darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision; Listen +14, Spot +14
Languages Giant, Common

AC 20 (natural +5, armor +3, dex +2), touch 12, flat-footed 18
hp 116 (6d8+24 HD + 12d6+40); fast healing 5, DR 3/cold iron
Fort +17, Ref +12, Will +18; Spell Resistance 19

Speed 40 ft. (8 squares), fly 40 ft. (good)
Melee greatsword +17/+12/+7 (3d6+7/19–20); or
Edritch blast +15 (6d6) or
Eldritch Glaive +17/+12/+7 (6d6+6)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +13; Grp +21
Atk Options sneak attack 2d6, Eldritch Blast (6d6)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th):
3/day— invisibility;
1/day—lightning bolt (DC 20), gaseous form, swift invisibility.

Invocations (7 + 1 Extra Invocation)
Least: All Seeing Eyes (comprehend languages, bonus to spot.search); Beguiling Influence; See the Unseen; Eldritch Glaive or Eldritch Spear
Lesser: Charm, Relentless Dispelling
Greater: Vitriolic Blast, Chilling Tentacles

Abilities Str 18, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 17, Wis 18, Cha 24
SQ deceptive veil, detect magic, deceive item, imbue item, fire/acid resistance 5

Feats: Craft Wonderous Item, Improved Natural Armor, Skill focus (weaving), Skill focus (history), Skill Focus (Use Magic Device), Extra Invocation, Flyby attack

Bluff: +28, concentration +23, craft (weaving) +26, diplomacy + 13, Intimidate +13, Know (arc), +8, Know (hist) +10, Listen +12, Search +6, Spot +18, Spellcraft + 11, Use Magic Device +25

Possessions: Tunic of Steady Spellcasting (Concentration +5); robe of armour +3 (functions as bracers of armour +3), cloak of resistance +2, amulet of health +2.

Deceptive Veil (Su): As per the spell disguise self, save that the ogre mage can appear to be up to one size smaller.
Flight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight as a free action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its normal speed and has perfect maneuverability.
Deceive Item: Arley can take 10 on UMD checks.
Imbue Item: Arley can create magic items as if he had the required spell to make a specific item, assuming he has the proper feat and makes a successful Use
Sneak Attack: As the rogue ability from the Player's Handbook.

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